*Note: The week before we had this
den meeting, we completed requirements 19a ("Know the safety rules
for handling a knife", requirement 19d ("Earn the Whittling
Chip card"), and the "know" par of requirement 21g (Resourcefulness
character connection). Click here to see
an idea for that den meeting.

Teach the boys how to take care of their
pocket knives. (Requirement 19b)

Click here for info on how
to sharpen a knife. (You can purchase an inexpensive sharprning
stone at Walmart, or any sporting goods store for about $3).

Making the Soap boats (requirement
19c):

1. Get one bar of Ivory soap (or any other brand of soap that
floats) per boy.

2. Whittle (a sliver at a time, to prevent the soap from breaking)
the bottom part of the boat. To minimize clean up, have the boys whittle
on top of a cheap shower curtain (we got ours at a dollar store) or
table cover that you can just throw away afterwards.

3. Using the pocket knives, outline the part that will be dug out
to make the hole on the top surface. Use a plastic spoon to dug out
the middle.

4. Fill a plastic sled with an inch or two of water and have the boys
race their boats, two at a time, by blowing on their boats. (other
material you might need: Ziplock bags-some boys wanted to take their
boat home, and baby wipes for soapy hands).

You can now complete the "commit" and "practice"
part of requirement 21g (Resourcefulness character connection).